Delavan City (part 2 of 2)

Delavan lake is second in area and only in that way inferior in its natural beauty to Geneva lake. It is about three and one-half miles long, from a half-mile to a mile in breadth, and its greatest depth, near its middle point, is fifty-six and seven-tenths feet. Its largest inlet. Jackson's creek, comes from Geneva into the town at section 12 and crosses sections 14 and 22 to reach the foot of the lake. A much smaller stream comes out of Walworth, crosses sections 33, 34 for less than a mile, and meets the lake near its tipper end. Its one outlet, opposite the mouth of the larger inlet, takes a swannecked course to reach the Turtle near the city of Delavan. A widening of Turtle creek, near by, locally named Lake Como, completed the suggestion to Pottawattomie imagination of the body, neck, and head of the bird from which they named the lake and its outlet. Turtle creek comes out of Richmond into section 6, enters Darien from section 18, and winds its way to the Rock near Beloit. The so-called island, which at wettest seasons has been really an island, rises high above the water level, at the head of the lake, as if to mask a small marsh which was part of the primitive lake-basin.

The farms at the broad foot of the lake are among the finest in the county. They were owned for many years by the Mabie brothers and their heirs, but have passed into other ownership. The high banks of the lake, once well-wooded and now not wholly bare, are lined with summer homes, hotels, parks, picnic grounds and steamer landings, - and, in brief, the Algonquin fishermen's Wah-ba-shaw-bess has become the white men's highly civilized Delavan lake. Whatever changes have been or may be made, the lake itself and the natural height and slope of its containing walls will remain; and the Pottawattomie' s grandson may fish as of yore in Swan lake, but must first buy the county clerk's license and must submit his catch to the game warden's count. The Delavan Lake Assembly Association's ground, about thirty-seven acres, fully equipped with auditorium and other suitable buildings, lies at the head of the outlet. Its yearly meetings bring visitors from far beyond the county borders, and have had their part in making the little lake a part of the geography of American inland waters, not to know which argues one's self unknown and as having yet something of rational interest to learn. About thirty-five years ago a steamer, the "D. A. Olin," was built and launched, but was found rather too large for practical use. The present flotilla is two small serviceable steamers and numerous unregistered sail-boats.

Col. Samuel F. Phoenix having discovered the lake, its outlet, and the point at which the road from Racine to Janesville must cross the swan's neck, chose his lands by quarter-sections and half-quarters in sections 15, 20, 21, 22, 33, 34. He built his cabin in section 15, near the foot of the lake. Henry Phoenix entered land in sections 7, 17. 18, 19, 20, 21. The brothers jointly entered parts of sections 23, 24, 28, 29. Section 18 includes the site of their village. These men dealt justly and liberally with other men who came to build and people the rising city. The Phoenixes came with enough money for their enterprise, and their money, business abilities, and personal character and qualities gave them proportionate influence as long as they lived. A house was built early enough in 1836, on the east bank of the outlet and within the village as soon afterward platted, to admit their cousin, William Phoenix, and wife Susan, with their family and boarders, as occupants, in October. Allen Perkins had also built earlier in the year, at a point on Turtle creek, within section 18, but did not stay long. In 1837 Colonel Phoenix brought his wife and son from Perry, New7 York, and Henry's family came in 1838.

A saw-mill was built between the village and the lake in 1838, and was at once set at work to turn out materials for a grist-mill, at the village. In 1838 a stock of goods was brought and set out for sale, at first near the saw-mill, but a few weeks later at the house in the village. One of the earliest revenue measures of the county commissioners was to impose a dealer's license fee of ten dollars on the firm of H. & S. F. Phoenix ; but it does not appear in record that the county commissioners licensed a tavern in town or village.

No registry of arrivals was ever made and preserved, but the persons here named probably came to village or town by or before 1843: Abner Adams, William C. Allen, Ira Andrus, James Aram, John Auchampaugh, William Averill, Enoch Bailey and sons, Henry, Nehemiah and Samuel W. Barlow, William A. Bartlett, Richard Beals (wife Lucy Beardsley), Richard S. Bond, Daniel Bowen (d. i860), Peter Boys (1783-1855), Jeremiah Bradley, Cyrus, Edwin, and Ichabod Brainard f 1 776-1855) , Martin Brooks, Isaac Burson, Chester P., Hiram, and Nelson Calkins. David Perry Calkins, Luther Chapin, Jonathan C. Church, Daniel Clough, John Dalton (1800-1887) and wife Ellen, Edmund Dickenson, I.azarus W. Ellis, John Evans, James F. Flanders, Walter Flansburg. Daniel G. Foster, Abraham Fryer, John and Stephen P. Fuller, Daniel Gates, Levi Gloyd, Marcellus B. Goff (1808-1884), Jasper Griggs, Benjamin F. and Henry Hart, Edwin A. and William Hollinshead, Edward B. Hollister, Isaac C. Howe (1793-1887), Dr. Henderson Hunt, John James, Asa G., Milo, and Samuel C. Kelsey, Daniel E. La Bar, James H. Mansfield, Hilas Meacham, Lewis H. Miller. Tames Mof-

Ichabod Brainard (1776-1855) married a second wife, Mary (born 1779)> daughter of John Cleveland and Eunice Cutler. Cyrus was their son, as was probably Edwin, who married Mary A., daughter of William and Ann Phoenix.

Isaac Burson (1810-1881) was son of James Burson and Deborah Stroud, and was born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania. He was a brother of Mrs. William Hollinshead. He lived unmarried, and died at Elkhorn, March 5, 1881. His burial was delayed for some days by the memorable snow blockade of that year. He bought land in section 4, Delavan, and sections 20, 33, Sugar Creek.

Rev. James F. Flanders married Ann Elizabeth Porter, June 4, 1839. It is not shown where this marriage took place, but it was within the larger town of Elkhorn.

Daniel Oilman Foster (1802), son of Daniel Foster and Al.m Davis, a native of New Hampshire, married Caroline, daughter of Daniel Brainard ; came from Perry, New York, in 1838 and bought land in sections 7, 21.

Daniel Stroud Hollinshead (1812-1869), son of James Hollinshead and Sarah Stroud, married Rachel Sherrod (1807-1853)- Edwin Augustus and William were his brothers. The former bought land in section 34, Sugar Creek.

Milo and Samuel C. Kelsey were sons of Samuel Kelsey and Elizabeth Carver, of Sherburne, New York. Sarah Ann. their sister, was wife of Colonel Phoenix. Asa G. Kelsey's relationship may have been that of brother or of cousin. Milo was the first lawyer at Delavan. Samuel C. was a surveyor, teacher and architect. He married Caroline M., daughter of Colonel Betts.

Daniel Edwin La Bar (1789-1839) married Hannah (1793-1856), daughter of Samuel Rees and Rachel Stroud (1774-1854). He came in 1839 to sections 6. 7. His son, Samuel Rees La Bar (1820-1896). came in the same year. His wife was Harriet Nuel, daughter of Rev. Henry Topping and Nuel Van Doren.

Truman Pierce (1787-1866) bought in section 31. His wife, Lucy, was born in 1793. Two of his sons-in-law were Kirtland G. Wright and Calvin Carrington. He and his mother, Mary (1755-1852), were buried at East Delavan.

John Bisby Shepard (1803-1875) was a son of Pelatiah Shepard and Elizabeth Thompson, of Fulton county, New York. He married Rachel (1806-1872), daughter of Benjamin Willis and Bridget Cole, and had five children. Of these, Sabra Amelia was wife of Reuben H. Bristol, Mary Selina was Mrs. Edward Colman, and Linus Delavan married Clarissa Zulemma, daughter of Adna Sawyer and Serena Norton Viles (widow of Benjamin Home).

Israel Stowell (1812-1876), native of New Hampshire, married Mary M., daughter of Truman Jones and Elizabeth Kinne. He came to the village in 1838, and it is told that he built the first framed house, opened the first tavern, and placed a stagg-coach on the route between Delavan and Chicago. A year before his death he married a second time.

Aaron Hardin Taggart (1816-1874) bought land in section 21, but became one of the earliest business men of Delavan. He married, in 1846, Martha (1826-1905), daughter of Henry Phoenix and Ann Jennings. They had seven children.

Ira ('.. John (born 1825* and Samuel Utter 1 1807-1898) were sons of Abraham Utter and Marinda Beardsley, of Washington county. New York. John married Louisa Amanda, daughter of Winsor Lapham. Samuel came in 1843 with his second wife, Harriet A. Winston (1823-1906).

Hoyt, came from Sparta, New York, to Delavan in 1840, to section 23. His first wife, Mary M., was daughter of Orsamus Bowers. In 1872 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Adriance. of Scipio, New York.

Chauncey D. Woodford (1827-1891) was son of Austin (1785-1866) and Roxana (1793-1856).. He married Sarah Fenton 1 1828-1864), daughter of Moses Ball and Lucinda Holland. He was the first wagon-maker and blacksmith at East Delavan corners.

About 1843 Truman Pierce, Samuel Utter, Kirtland G. Wright and Calvin Carrington, farmers living near the intersection of the highway between Delavan and Lake Geneva, with the north and south road dividing section 25 from section 26, chose that point as one convenient for a store, repair shops, and whatever else might develop there. In no long time a school house and church followed. The store has always had a good local trade and its business lias generally been in good hands. The other buildings were displaced by larger and better ones, and a convenient town hall was added to the group. A butter factory, in operation for several years past, was burned in June, 191 1. It has been rebuilt with hollow cement blocks. Its monthly receipt of milk was about one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds, and its monthly product of butter about three thousand five hundred pounds.

A postoffice was established about 1872, a station on the star-route from Elkhorn to Harvard. The recent institution of rural free delivery service has divided the postal business of the eastern half of the town of Delavan between route No. 2, Lake Geneva, and route No. 2, Elkhorn, the village being served from the Lake Geneva office. In the village are about a dozen dwellings and fifty inhabitants. Its always prosperous Baptist church, organized in 1843, has a resident pastor, now Rev. William A. Weyrauch. The town hall houses a small public library. Nearly a mile and one-half away, at the northeast corner of section 36, is a little church of the Latter-day Saints, founded by a few persons who chose not to follow President Young. Henry Southwick was its spiritual leader for many years. A mile west of this church, at the corner of section 26, and three-quarters of a mile south of the village, is the small but sufficient and neatly kept East Delavan cemetery, where one may read on marble and granite several names of the fathers and mothers of the township.

Justices Of The Peace

Colonel Phoenix, his brother, and his cousin, platted their village and settled in it in 1837, and they had not long to wait for lot buyers and neighbors. The Colonel's early death, and that of his brother, about two years later, were most regrettable, for their character and practical abilities g.v.-e them influence and weight; but these events did not arrest progress. The cousin remained a few more years and left the county before the village was incorporated.

Among the earlier business men were James Aram, W. Wallace Bradley, Col. Caleb and Edwin Croswell, Nicholas M. Harrington. Joseph D. Monell. Jr., George Passage, Aaron H. Taggart, Thomas Topping and Hezekiah Wells. Rev. Henry Topping came in 1839 to Darien and was induced to settle at Delavan in 1841, in which year came also Dr. Henderson Hunt.

No village can exist permanently without a blacksmith. In 1840 Alonzo McGraw came thus to confirm the site of the coming city. \V. Willard Isham came in 1845 as a wagonsmith, and with Charles H. Sturtevant as wheelwright and partner, important trade was soon brought l" Delavan. As the village and neighboring farm lands were settled men came in from their fields and resumed the mechanical or commercial occupations to which they had been bred but which they had dropped awhile. One intimate!}- acquainted with men of the first half-century of the county would find rnanj farmers who had been bred to village occupations, and a few who had seen human life far more broadly

The grist-mill, built in 1839, passed successively, with continuous improvement, to the Croswell-. the Mabies (who rebuilt it in 1853), and to Amos Phelps. The Delavan flour was of the best in the county markel When wheat was no longer raised in 01 near the county it was and is yel imported by rail for local grinding.

William Phoenix built his house in 1837 and made it serve for a short time as a hotel. This was on the bank of the outlet, at the upper end of Terrace street. Within two or three years he built again, for hotel purpose only, near the lower end of Walworth avenue, and sold or leased the prem ises in 1841 to Israel Stowell. In 1843 Ezekiel Tripp took the house for a short term. He also sold rights to make or use a patented substitute for tallow candles or candlesticks, by which some of his customers burned their fingers badly. Philetus S. Carver followed him, but, becoming sheriff, he made way in 1845 for one Harkness, from Darien, who in some way obtained a license to sell the strong drink which the Phoenixes had sought to keep out of Delavan forever. Charles H. Sturtevant built his bar-room fixtures and was severely censured by his fellow members of the temperance society for so aiding and abetting the introduction of an abomination. Henry H. Phoenix and a Mr. Babcock had each a short period as landlord.

In 1846 Horace Duryee, a shoemaker, built a new house, long known as the Delavan House, or "white hotel." His capital was said to have been "a black sheepskin and a side of sole-leather." He let his house to Ward Mallory, who kept a well-ordered hotel for the next six years. Then came Hagarnan & Southworth, followed by Mr. Eaton. In i860 Chester W. Phillips became owner and landlord. In 1863 he extended it and raised it to three stories, and leased it to Mr. Hobbs, after whom came Greenleaf W. Collins. Edwin M. Strow bought the house in i860 and occupied it till his death, May 20, 1893. Mrs. Strow continued its business until the great fire of that year removed an old landmark.

Franklin K. Phoenix built a brick hotel, of three stories, in 1848. His first tenant was William lloyt. who presently made way for Stowell & Jones, but returned, to be succeeded by Milo Kelsey, whose tenure was soon ended by his death. Mrs. Sarah A. Phoenix then conducted the business until relieved by Ralph Lathrop. in whose time the house fell into some local disfavor. It was closed for a short time as a hotel and opened as a private academy. Dates and, perhaps, names are wanting within this and a later period of quickly following change. Daniel Ostrom kept the house in 1859 and [860, if not one or more years later. In [865 Ward LVfallory bought, refitted, and occupied it until 1868, when he sold it to Elon Andrus, who came from Lake Geneva. This proprietorship may have continued for fifteen years and was followed by Benjamin Bassler, Greenleaf \V. Collins, Mr. Erchinbeck, Mr. Longley, Mrs. Strow. and possibly others, in uncertain order. About 1009 this ancient hostelry was converted to other uses, never again, it is probable, to supply solid comfort and liquid delight to either traveler or citizen.

On the blackened site of the Delavan House arose in [894 the Hotel Delavan, built and equipped in one of the styles of that year for Wisconsin cities of the fourth class - thai is. outwardly hisrh and not unsightly and com- fortable and convenient in modern ways within. Clarence W. Bartram built the new house and kept it four or five years, when it passed to John B. Delaney. and thence severally to William Bowman, of Racine, Mrs. Barrett and her sons, and lastly to William Bowers of Burlington.

The Mabie Brothers came to Delavan in 1850 and bought farm property as well as interests in the village, and thereafter wintered their menagerie, live stock - horses and wild beasts - near the lower end of the lake. Thus, this became the starting point of each season's tour of the states. As the Mabies raised and bought grain, turned out good flour and plenty of it, and made dates for show performances at home, the citizens of the village and its neighborhood were supplied at lowest market rates w ith these prime needs of Romans - "bread and circuses" - and the Caesars, had they reigned at Delavan. could not have done these things better. Other men. whose experience had been gained in the service of the Mabies. or who were influenced by the example of their success, set out from time to time with traveling shows, for one or more seasons each. For twenty years the city and the circus were associated in the minds of severely-moral editors in the far northern counties, half of whom mispelled the name of the "wickedest town in Wisconsin." and none of whom dared to offend rich sinners living north of Winnebago lake. Delavan circus owners were reputable and useful citizens, and their men. armed with tent stakes, could hold their own against the midnight assaults of gangs that thought no deed was so finely heroic as to "clean out" a circus. All that, for Delavan. has so long ago passed away that one now living must be well past middle age who last saw a Delavan circus.

Xicholas M. Harrington may have been in [853 the first banker at Delavan: but was not. as has been told, the first in the county. That distinction. such as it was, belonged to Mr. Richardson, who opened the Rank of Geneva in [848. In his appreciative autobiography, Mr. Harrington mentioned without wearisome dates or other useful details his various private and public utilities. Since he who knew the affairs of this bank, if bank it was, from the inside, has left its tale untold, it can be inferred here only that it was most likely useful to its patrons, and that it closed without great disaster to himself.

Railwav prospects for Delavan brightened in [854 and her liberal aid in village bonds and individual subscriptions made certain hei earl) connection with all that part of the world which really moves. Business in real estate increased at once in anticipation of the first train arrival, and other businesses joined the forward march. The track layers stopped at Burlington for the winter of 1^55-6. but resumed work before the frost was out of the ground, reaching the village about May. For a few months Delavan became a term- inal station, with a rough shed for engine shelter, while the work was pushed forward, reaching Beloit in that year. Early in the same hopeful year the Walworth County Bank was organized, with William C. Allen as president and William W. Dinsmore as cashier. It was then, or a little later, owned mostly by W. Augustus Ray and Henry M. Ray, his father. In 1865 the First National Bank grew out of the older bank, with Otho Bell as president and \V. Augustus Ray as cashier. Its other principal incorporators were William C. Allen, Alanson H. and D. Bennett Barnes, Ira Ford, Sarah P. Kelsey, Ebenezer Latimer. Jeremiah Mabie, Lafayette Pitkin, Henry M. Ray, Charles Thaddeus Smith, Warren VY. Sturtevant. Alfred D. and Salmon Thomas. In 1880 this bank closed and was succeeded by the banking house of F. Latimer & Company, with A. Hastings Kendrick as cashier. Mr. Latimer died in 1910, but the bank retained his name until 191 1, when it became the Wisconsin State Bank. Its capital is $30,000, its deposits about $400,000. Mr. Kendrick is now president and Charles H. Shulz is cashier.

The Citizens Bank of Delavan began business in March, 1875, with Frank Leland as president and Charles B. Tallman as cashier. The leading stockholders were Otho Bell, James II. Cam]), George Cotton. John DeWolf, Jamin H. Goodrich, W. Willard Isham, T. Perry James. Henry G. Reichwald, and Charles S. Teeple. At present its capital is $50,000, its deposits about $600,000. Both these banks are now in buildings designed for their purpose, handsome and substantial without, businesslike and suitable within. Both banks have passed the perils of infancy, and may be regarded as institutions - things that do noi pass away.

Men of Delavan early enough saw the importance to their village of local manufacturing, and good workmen found no want of encouragement even if their capital was but small. Wagon simps, planing mill, foundry. pump-works, lack factory, shoe factory were among many undertakings which, each in its turn, was forced, sooner or later, to yield to conditions imposed by the newer system of factory production that has so effectually Forced apart the local manufacturer and his home customer. Mr, [sham began in 1 N-| 5 a shop for blacksmith and general woodwork which soon became a prosperous wagon and carriage shop. With changing partnerships and readjustments of the business he persevered for about a quarter century, and then went into oilier business.

The pump and windmill works began in [861, owned by Trumbuil D, Thomas, followed by a long list of linns and single owners, the best remembered of whom were Patrick Gormlej and ( (liver G Stowell. This enterprise continued for twenty or thirty vears to make Delavan known far and wide by its works. Tlie tack factor)', not owned by Delavan men, occupied tbe pump-shop building for a few years and then its machinery and business were taken elsewhere.

Men of Chicago came in 1003 with the Globe Knitting Works. The late \V. W. Bradley's successors became managers in 1905, having formed a company of stockholders, with an investment of $300,000. The works have been greatly extended and improved. Their production is mostly "sweaters" of high quality and in many styles and colors. About three hundred persons are employed steadily, mostly drawn from Delavan and its vicinity. The effect of such an enterprise on the general prosperity of the city is noticeable. The present officers of the company are John J. Phoenix, president: William B. Tyrrell, vice-president: Ithel B. Davies, treasurer; William II. Tyrrell, treasurer.

The Press

The newspapers of Delavan began in 1852 with the Walworth County Journal, by John C. Bunner, with help from open-handed citizens. In 1855 the way was clear for Joseph Baker and William M. Doty, with the Delavan Messenger, and with liberal help, for the village needed and would have a local newspaper. In 1857 Mr. Baker and James W. Lawton re-named the paper Delavan Northron, a name indicating the political sentiment of editors and patrons. Henry L. Devereux, an old-time printer, bought Mr. Baker's interest and soon sold it to Mr. Lawton. who changed the name in [862 to Pelavan Republican. P.. G. Wheeler put forth the Patriot in [861, hut it was soon merged, name and all. in the older concern, which for two or three years joined the two named and then became again the Republican. Messrs. \. I). Wright and Andrew J. Woodbury bought the office at Mr. Lawton's death. in iSji. and a few months Later Mr. Wright was sole owner, lie was an excellent printer and competent editor. In 1874 he removed to Rockford and the new owners placed Frank Leland temporarily in editorship. I le retired in April. 1875. and George B. Tallman appeared as editor and printer. The owners, then, or soon thereafter, were Charles B. and George B. Tallman. D Bennetl Barnes and Cyrus Williams. Another change left the Tailmans in full control.

George B. Tallman's local editorship had a half-reckless, off-hand, good humored quality, unmatched elsewhere in the county, and hi- paper was very readable whenever his press happened to stand nearh level and the ink to !»- evenly distributed ; for he was no pressman, though lie was a rapid type-setter. Weekly, throughout the years, he would stand upright at hi a 1 without written copy, talking, laughing, whistling, and set up a column of ''local items" - crisp, racy, slangy - increasing in length from a half-line to four or five lines.

Wilbur G. Weeks, a better printer and more careful editor than Tallman, bought the office in 1881, improved its equipment and its business, and made the Republican good property. He sold it in 1908 to A. S. Hearn of Dodgeville, from whom it passed in October, 1909, to Maurice Morrissey, with L. F. Malany as business manager.

In 1859 G. W. D. Andrews, then on an informal furlough from service in the regular army, came to stay the rising tide of Republicanism by printing a few numbers of the Walworth County Sovereign. This paper's short career was ended by fire, and its portly editor was afterwards arrested as a deserter.

A boy of Darien, Frank P. Howard, aged about sixteen, owner of a make-shift press and as much half-worn type as he could lift easily, came this way in 1898 to publish the Delavan Tribune. The boy had natural aptitudes which more judiciously guided and encouraged might have made him a useful man. To begin as master of a calling of which he had learned no part was to set out by a short but rugged road to failure. But the poor boy had done something to make a second paper at Delavan, and his foolish venture led to something better. He died early.

The Delavan Enterprise began in 1878 under ownership of competent printers and with vigorous editorship, namely, that of Clarence R. and Edgar W. Conable. of an old county family. Though a Republican paper, the Enterprise, in 1882. joined the rebellion against Charles G. Williams, who was in that year defeated at the congressional election. Hiram T. Sharp, a lawyer and a gentleman, became owner and editor in 1884. He was not a printer, nor had he been trained to editorship. He could only make the Enterprise clean and decent, like himself, and keep it so. lie sold it in 1893 to Grant D. Harrington (.son of an old and worthy citizen of Delavan). who became its editor for the next live years. David B. Harrington, an uncle, who was a printer and an old-time editor, sometimes contributed to campaign discussion and showed younger men what editorship was of yore. The younger Harrington has since said that he can not "point with pride" to anything in his editorial career. No becomingly modest man wastes time in pointing backward in his own rough road to the stars. Grant D. Harrington has yet to disappoint the rcasniiahlc hopes of his friends in any of his undertakings He was well equipped for every duty of a village newspaper office and he restored the Enterprise to life and usefulness, made it truly a second paper at Delavan, and sold it in [898 to Frank \l. Stevens. E. J. Scut bought it in 1900. but sold again to Stevens in 1901. In 1902 William A. Dean took possession and the next year William T. Passage, son of the pioneer merchant, became a partner and in 1908 sole owner. Judging from outward appearances, the progress of the Enterprise since 1893 nas been steadily forward. Both offices at Delavan are equipped with power presses and the Republican is linotyped.

L. and Milton A. Brown, father and son. were successful horse-breeders and decent men. but were not of the stuff of which editors or printers are commonly made. They must have believed that Mr. Cleveland was about to be re-elected to the presidency, for they began their apprenticehood very early in 1888 by publishing, January 7th. the first number of a second Walworth County Democrat. This paper was edited and printed, though few or none can now tell how, for something like a year: but the result of the election did not encourage further amateur effort in organ-making In all this, however, was one then very young man's opportunity, and the evolution of a real editor began in the person of William T. Passage.

Religious Societies

Seventeen men and women formed a Baptist society September 21, 1839. with Rev. Henry Topping as pastor, and in 1841 a church was built of wood, at cost of about one thousand five hundred dollars, thirty-six by fifty feet on the ground, with seats for two hundred persons. This was on a lot given by the Phoenix proprietors, and this desirable site, fronting the west side of the park is still occupied by the society. \ brick church was built in 1854 with one-third more floor space at cost of four thousand dollars. This society, for long the largest of its denomination in the state, and yet the lead ing one in the county, built its third church in 1880, seventy by one hundred and twenty-eight feet on the ground. After Mr. Topping, the pastors have been John H. Dudley 1844, Mead Bailej 1S50, Newell Boughton [853, Albert Sheldon 1854. Jeremiah D. Cole 1858. John Williams i860. David Burbank 1862. Ethan B. Palmer [864, Joseph 1'".. Johnson [865, Charles T. Km- [868, David E. Halteman 1869, Charles A. Hobbs 1N84. Wiliam R. Yard io<><). The long pastorates of Messrs Halteman and 1 lobbs had a parallel in another church fronting the same park.

St. Andrew'- parish was formed by assembling the somewhat widely dispersed families of Delavan and adjoining towns in [851. In [853 a little chapel was lmilt at Fourth and Matthew streel . and the Rev. Fathers <i>nway. Francis Prendergast and I'. J. Mallon were - 1 senl for this pioneer work. About 1859 Father George H. Brennan came as a resident priest, followed by T. A. Smith in 1861, Henry J. Roche 1863, Lawrence N. Kenney 1864, Jacob Morris 1866, Richard Dumphy 1869, J. Eugene Allen 1878, Michael J. Tanglier 1881, Joseph G. Smith 1886, John Buckley 1909, Father Allen was the last who drove through sunshine, cloud, mud and unbeaten snow to minister to the mission parish of St. Patrick's, at Elkhorn. While lot values were relatively quite low the parish bought at Walworth avenue and Seventh street, and in 1895 one °f me finest churches in the county was dedicated. A well-chosen cemetery lot was acquired at an early opportunity, and many of the dead of Elkhorn and other towns were buried there. This ground joins Spring Grove cemetery, with no barrier between. The present valuation of all the parish property, which includes a fine house for the priest, is about seventy-five thousand dollars. The parish is in excellent condition for its work.

The Congregational society dates its beginning July, 1841. with ten members. A little church was built at the north side of Maple Park in 1844. with an outlay of one thousand dollars - then a large sum for an unselfish purpose. A new church, with brick walls, forty-two by seventv-five feet, was built in 1856 at cost of five thousand dollars. This has since been extended, modernized and improved. Rev. Amnon Gaston began his triple service. here, at Elkhorn. and at Sugar Creek in 1841. After him came Frederick H. Pitkin 1845. Lucius Foote 1847 ( 1798-1887), Joseph Collie 1854. William E. Davidson [896, Sedgwick Porter Wilder 1898 (1847-1905), Howard W. Kellogg 1905, Thistle V Williams 10,09. Mr. Collie's long service is noteworthy.

Christ Church parish was formed in July. 1844, with Nehemiah Barlow and Hezekiah Well- as wardens, Caleb Croswell, B. J. Newberry. Joseph Rector, Dr. Shepard Sherwood, Salmon Thomas as vestrymen. A small house at the south side of the park answered the passing need until 1877. when work began anew on the parish lot at Walworth avenue and Fifth street. In [879 this building was dedicated and ha-- since been extended ami improved and a rectory added, making the total estate worth about twentyfive thousand dollars. The line of rectors began with Rev. Stephen Mel high 1844, who wa- called to Madison in 1845 and returned in 184c; - the interim filled by Rev. Mr. Bartlett. Then came Gerrit E. Peters [852, Joseph Adderly, [bseph II. Nichols, Albert Scott Nicholson 1861. Gardiner M. Skinner [862, George W. Mean 1865, Fortune C. Brown 1870. Edward R. Sweetland 187(1, Joel 1 'lark [879, Charles Holmes 1880, Charles L. Mallory [891, lames B. VTcCullough 1901, Edward S. Barkdull [902, John White moo. Mark- 11. Milne IQIO.

Troy circuit, Methodist Episcopal, was formed in 1841 and included Eagle, Troy. Lagrange, Sugar Creek. Darien and Delavan. Except Rev. .Messrs. Leonard F. Moulthrop and Henry Whitehead, named in 1841, and Hiram Allen in 1845-6, the workers in this then difficult field, for the first ten years, are not indicated by the record of credentials filed at the office of the clerk of the circuit court, though there were probably others than these three. Reuben Richardson Wood (1819-1906), ordained in 1842, came to Delavan as resident pastor in 1850, doubtless with assignment to duty at Darien. In 1853 Enos Stevens and J. H. Hopeton supplied a short vacancv filled in that year by Elisha Page, after whom John Tibbals 1854, Hiram I 1. Hersey (1812-1884) in 1856, Thomas White 1858, Russell P. Lawton 1859, Cyrus Scammon i860, James B. Cooper 1801, A. C. Manwell 1803, G. W. Delamatyr 1867. Reuben B. Curtis 1869. Stephen Smith 1870, Edward S. McChesney 1871, Alonzo Mansfield Bullock 1872. A. C. Higgins 1874, Oliri Curtis 1875, Henry Faville 1876, Edward G. Updike 1878, John Scott Davis 1881, William B. Robinson 1883. Samuel C. Thomas (1810-1894) in 1884, William II. Summers 1886, Frederick C. Brayton 1888, George Veritv 1889 (died), Walter 1). Cole 1890, Jeremiah H. Hicks 1893, Stephen A. Olin 1894, Richard K. Manaton 1898, George Vater 1900, Andrew Porter 1902. Sidney A. Sheard 1903, George M. White 1904, Rodman W. Bosworth 1906, William Hooton 1909. Messrs Wood, Faville, and Updike passed to the Congregational pulpit - the last-named in 1880.

Educational

Dr. Joseph R. Bradway opened a private school in 1842 and taught until the house was burned in 1845. E. D. Barber continued this school in the Haptist church. A common school was opened in 1843 in Terrace street. A large and well-contoured lot was soon set apart for permanent use, and from 1852 forward the present public school house has been built by successive additions, until it has become a large and sightly building, fully equipped for its purpose. It faces Wisconsin street and the park and looks westward toward Main street. A little house had been built at the lower corner ol" the ground and is yet remembered as the ''red school house." The earliest teachers were Milo Kelse) and Enoch II. M. Bailey, as nearly as can now be- learned. After them, and before the opening of the high school were Daniel B. Maxson, William Hutchins, and Mr. Baker about 1855. The larger and better Ordet of things began with Augustus Jackman Cheney in [858 and continued by Warren D. Parker [861, Thomas Chrowder Chamberlain 1805. L. S.

Sweezy 1867, R. W. Lang 1869, Melvin Grigsby about 1871, Elias Dewey 1873 to 1887, George L. Collie 1887, H. J. Bowell 1889, H. A. Adrian 1890, J. H. Hutchinson 1892, Charles W. Rittenberg 1893, Ithe] B. Davies 1903, Henry A. Melcher 1906. There is some confusion of dates as to the service of Mr. Grigsby and Mr. Dewey. This school employs sixteen teachers.

Public Library

It is not probable that Delavan was for sixty years wholly destitute of other than private libraries, though nothing is told of them previous to 1899. In that year the Delavan Library and Literary Association began the formation of a public library for the use of which the trifling fee of one dollar yearly was imposed. James Aram, who died in 1897, bequeathed fifteen thousand dollars to be used in providing a suitable lot and building for a free library and to this added five thousand dollars as an endowment fund. This bequest was to become effective at the death of his wife, Mrs. Susan C. ( Rood) Aram, which took place in 1905. She confirmed this legacy and the city accepted it and assumed the duty of making it perpetually operative. Alexander H. Allyn added five thousand dollars to the library fund and the citizens contributed a like sum. A most desirable lot was chosen at Walworth avenue and Fourth street, and a building worthy of the city and the givers of the fund was dedicated July 8, 1908. Its cost was twenty-two thousand eight hundred dollars. It is of stone, pressed brick, and is tile-roofed. Its situation, just without the business district, is conveniently central, and affords a minimum exposure to fires from adjacent property.

The city's yearly appropriation is one thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. The library opened with two thousand three hundred volumes, of which six hundred and eighty-six were received from the library of 1899. At present the number of volumes is about four thousand. In its first year the circulation of books reached about twenty thousand volumes, and this rate has not since varied materially. The first and only president of the board of library directors is Mr. Allyn. Miss Laura F. Angell, too, has kept her post as librarian from the opening in 1908.

Water Works

Several springs were early known and were used for supplying men and beasts with clear, cool water. In 1892 it was found practicable to improve them and make them available for the whole city's use. Pumps, engine, tank and distributing main'- were supplied, municipal bonds to the amount of forty thousand dollars being issued for this purpose. The source of this water seems exhaustless and its wholesome quality has been tested by generations of men.

Fire Department

The old fire company at once prepared itself for highest efficiency. At present there are two hose companies and two hook and ladder companies, all well equipped and trained for their work. The several chiefs of the tire department have been James Davidson 1894, Andrew J. Pramer 1895, Frank M. Stevens 1897, William T. Passage 1899. The first officers under the newer order w ere D. Bennett Barnes, foreman, with A. W. Pierce and George Fred Heminway as assistants; David T. Gifford, engineer, with Newton O. Francisco as assistant ; Henry Gormley, hose captain, with George H. Sturtevant and W. H. Decker as assistants; Charles J. Walton, secretarv; Levi J. Xichols, treasurer. A fire company must have existed as long ago as 1861, for the late John Baptist Bossi (1831-1911) was for thirty-three years its treasurer.

Delavan Guards

Sixty-one young men were organized April 26, 1880, as the Delavan Guards, and the company was assigned to the First Regiment of the Wisconsin National Guard, under Col. William B. Britton. of Janesville. Its first officers were Fred B. Goodrich captain, Charles T. Isham first lieutenant. Menson Yedder second lieutenant. The next captain was Horace 1.. Clark, and the third and last was Richard J. Wilson. Governor Rusk called this, with several other companies, into service at Milwaukee, in 1886, to preserve the peace and dignity of the state when these were threatened by the rioters of that year. The duty assigned to the company was thai of guarding railway and manufacturers' property against lawless attack. The company's prompt obedience to call and soldierly conduct on duty were duly recognized at Madison, Milwaukee, and at home. Since 1889 no report has been sent to the adjutant-general, and at or nearly that date the company must have !>een dissolved.

The growth of the village soon overtook and surrounded it- first burying place, near the north end of Third street. Here wvw buried the bodies of Colonel Phoenix and of his brother and brother's wife, and one may read there a few other nine familiar names, though most of the bodies have been removed. It is not here known when Spring Grov 1 netery was laid out, but it was not long before or after i860. The place chosen is on high ground, naturally separated by a narrow valley from the homes of the living, and one side overlooks the spread of waters locally called Lake Como. One may find there a few graves of persons who had lived at Darien, Elkhorn, Richmond. Sugar Creek, and Walworth; for this was for long a finer burial ground than any in adjacent towns. Its contour and its readily drained soil has made it practicable to build several family vaults. A mausoleum was built at the gateway in 1911-12, containing one hundred and fifty crypts. Its materials are Bedford stone, marble, cement, and steel, and these so designed and wrought as to make the structure likely to defy the tooth of time for millenniads to come. The cost was about forty thousand dollars.

By 191 1 the conviction at Delavan was that she had outgrown the mediaeval passenger house at the railway station, and appeal to the state's railwav commission was so far effective that in the winter of 191 1 -12 a new house was built, across the track from the old one, with long and broad platforms of cement, and in most ways worthier of Delavan and more creditable to the railway management. It is not imposing, but it is convenient, comfortable, and clean, and less a cave of gloom than the old building. The street approaches are macadamized.

As at first platted the village was a small quadrangle east of the creek, to which Walworth avenue descends not too abruptly. Village growth was limited northwardly by the valley of the creek and the high-banked shore of Como, and hence began eastward and southward, on a broad and easily drained area. Then it crossed the valley, which at the avenue is not very wide, to the more quickly-rising westward ascent, at the top of which a few pleasant suburban blocks lie in front of the School for the Deaf, which looks southward. Further growth carried the city eastward on the Elkhorn road and southward across the railway tracks. Between east and smith seems the likeliest direction for further expansion.

It has not been judged needful to mention specifically the various societies for the Furtherance of religion, morality, and culture of the liner arts, and the many affiliated societies; nor to describe parks, public halls. Masonic temple, and many another evidence of public spirit and enlightened taste. All these and more in coming time may be presumed from even such inadequate sketch as is here made of a community possessed oi the sinew-- ol action and animated by the forward spirit id" the ages, past, present, and to come. Delavan will at some time have its own history, compiled by one or more of its well trusted citizens and in just proportion from the invaluable personal knowledge of survivors of the sub-pioneer period.

The village having been incorporated in 1855 an election of village officers, April 29, 1856. resulted in choice of Leonard E. Downie as president, William C. Allen, James Aram. YY. Willard Isham, Edmund F. Mabie, Joseph Monell, Jr., and Trumbull D. Thomas as trustees, James Lewis clerk, Xewton McGraw treasurer. Nicholas M. Harrington and Ebenezer I^atimer assessors, Nicholas Thome marshal. From causes now not assignable the official lists of village and city, as shown here, are slightly defective. From known causes they are liable to be found slightly inaccurate. They have been derived from the older county history, from newspaper files at Delavan and Elkhorn and from records in the county clerk's office.

Village Treasurers

Except for Mr. Holmes's term, in 1888, Harry C. Johnson will have been treasurer for village and city from 1883 to 1914. As a citizen of Delavan remarked. '"There is no use in anybody's tryin to run agin him.'* The name of the treasurer for 1873 is not found.

A postoffice was established in 1837. at first to receive semi-weekly mails from Racine. It is now an office of the second class, with city carriers, and having five dependent free delivery rural routes. Postmasters: William Phoenix 1837. Cyrus Brainard 1845, William C. Allen 1846, Cyrus Brainard 1847. Dr. Norman L. Gaston 1849, Nicholas M. Harrington 1853, George Cotton 1854. James H. Mansfield 1854 (at first as substitute for Mr. Cotton), Charles Smith 1861. Martin Mulville 1870, Henry C. Hunt 1886, Hiram Terry Sharp 1890, John Passage 1894, Mrs. Adele E. Barnes 1898, Edward Morrissey 1906. Mr. Mulville. as a soldier of the Tenth Infantry, lost his left arm at Chickamauga. Mr. Hunt (called Captain Hunt from having been master of a steamer on Delavan lake) lost his left leg at Peachtree Creek, as a soldier of the Twenty-second Infantry. Mr. Passage served in a Californian cavalry regiment, but the state census report of 1895 shows him a second lieutenant of Second Massachusetts Infantry. Both statements may be true.